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Health Highlights: April 19, 2013

U.S. Hospitals Told to Watch for H7N9 Bird Flu Cases

Dick Van Dyke has Undiagnosed Neurological Disorder

Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

U.S. Hospitals Told to Watch for H7N9 Bird Flu Cases

U.S. hospitals should be on the lookout for symptoms of H7N9 bird flu in people who have traveled to China or had contact with someone who's had the illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Those were among the measures for controlling bird flu and treating patients that were reviewed in a conference call the CDC held Thursday with health care professionals, according to agency spokesman Erin Burns, Bloomberg News reported.

On Friday, the CDC issued interim guidance on the use of antiviral drugs to treat H7N9 infections. Burns described the recent CDC actions as "routine preparedness measures for an outbreak with pandemic potential."

There have been 92 people infected with H7N9 bird flu in China and 17 of them have died, Bloomberg reported. The source of infection hasn't been identified and there is no evidence of person-to-person transmission of the virus, according to the CDC.

No cases of H7N9 bird flu have been reported in the U.S.

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Dick Van Dyke has Undiagnosed Neurological Disorder

Dick Van Dyke is struggling with fatigue and other symptoms of an unknown neurological disorder and has been ordered to rest at home.

"Tests and scans have yet to reveal a specific diagnosis. Various medications have not diminished the symptoms," Van Dyke's spokesman, Bob Palmer, told USA Today. The 87-year-old actor has canceled a public appearance scheduled for New York next week.

Palmer said that thanks to Van Dyke's "strong constitution and years on a daily fitness regimen Dick is otherwise in good physical condition but the fatigue factor has become acute. Until there is a specific diagnosis and treatment plan he is advised against travel by flight and is resting at home in Malibu."

On Twitter, Van Dyke outlined his situation: "My head bangs every time I lay down. I've had every test come back that I'm perfectly healthy. Anybody got any ideas?"